78 Records for the Reenactor

Posted on March 28, 2023March 28, 2023 by Pcosta88

Keynote Records – Red Army Choir of the USSR

Keynote Records was founded by Eric Bernay in 1937. It focused on left-wing folk music and pro-communism songs. The label included works by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson. The offices for the label were at 522 Fifth Avenue New York 18, N.Y.

Keynote Records Logo

In 1943 to find a wider audience, he turned to Jazz. Dinah Washington‘s recording debut was with Keynote at the end of 1943.

In 1947 the label made an attempt to manufacture its own records that didn’t go as planned, resulting in the business being acquired by Mercury Records in 1948.

One popular record by Keynote was Songs of the Lincoln Brigade. It was produced in 1937. It is a collection of songs praising the soldiers who went to fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.

Eric Bernay, died on Nov 5th, 1968 , according to his obituary in the New York Times –

Eric Bernay obiturary article — New York Times, November 5, 1968, pp 44.

Many years ago I was traveling along the I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia when I stopped at an antique store. Not sure of the town but I think it was North of New Market. I found a neat 78 record set, in mint condition. As well as a few single records.

The 78 record set was The Red Army Chorus of the USSR conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. It is Keynote Records Album number 103.

The Red Army Chorus of the USSR front cover. As an image embedded on it of soviet soliders singing and dancing. Red in color. — Front cover

Opening it up showed the lyrics of the songs. It was four 78 records (so 8 songs total)

From Border to Border
The Young Birch Tree
Cossack Song
If Tomorrow Brings War
Snowstorm
Song of the Tachanka
Meadowland
Along the Vales and Hills

One interesting thing is on the back cover. It has a Restricted Use Notice saying that the record is for non-commerical use on phonographs in homes and cannot be resold for any other use.

It took a while but I was eventually able to digitize the songs below as an MP3. If you would like the .wav version of the songs, feel free to contact me and I can send you a copy. Enjoy!

From Border to Border

This song is number K209-A in the set and looks like it was composed by Ivan Ivanovich Dzerzhinsky. The song runs about a minute and 50 seconds. You can download the mp3 here or listen to it below. Sung by the Red Army Choir of the USSR.

The Young Birch Tree

The Young Birch Tree is song number K210-B. Music is adapted and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Soloist is V. Pankov. You can download the MP3 or listen to it below.

Along the Vales and Hills

Along the Vales and Hills sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted (and composed) by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Also looks like C. Alimov helped to create it too. Number K208-A. You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

Cossack’s Song

Cossack Song (or Cossack’s Song) sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Composed by Ivan Ivanovich Dzerzhinsky. Song number K209-B. You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

If War Breaks out Tomorrow

If War Breaks out Tomorrow (or If Tomorrow Brings War). Song number 201-A. sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Composed by Dmitry Pokrass and Daniil Pokrass (they were brothers) as well as Vasily Lebedev-Kumach.

The lyrics note that the Red Army Chorus of the USSR was created in 1928 with 12 performers. It has won many awards and now has 200 performers coming from both the Red Army and the Red Navy.

You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

Meadowland (Song of the Plains)

Meadowland (Song of the Plains) is number K208-A. Sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Song was composed by Viktor Gusev and Lev Knipper.

You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

Snowstorm

Snowstorm is number K210-A. Sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and adapted and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Soloist is V. Pankov.

You can download the MP3 or listen to it below.

Tachanka

Tachanka is number K201-B. Sang by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov. Lyrics by Mikhail Ruderman and composed by Konstantin Listov. A tachanka is a horse-drawn machine gun, mounted on a peasant cart.

machine gun mounted on a cart with two soliders standing nearby on a street. — Tachanka was used in WW1 (and the Russian Civil War)

According to Wikipedia, there are a lot more verses and/or the lyrics are a bit different depending on how translated. You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

From Kiev to Lubin

This is a single record that I also bought at the same time. It is number K213-B and is sung by the Ukrainian State Choral Ensemble. I’m not sure of the lyrics, though it appears to be a Ukrainian Folk song.

You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

The Internationale

The Internationale is a left-wing song used by various social and communist movements. It was composed by Pierre De Geyter. This is number K213-A and is sung by the Bolshoi Theatre Chorus and Orchestra. Looks like the group associated with the Bolshoi Theatre at the time sang it.

You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

Forward to Victory (Charge of the Tanks)

This was also part of the collection I purchased. Though this doesn’t appear to be Keynote Records. Instead, it is Forward to Victory (Charge of the Tanks). Number 6309B. Taken from the film The Red Tanks and sung by the Moscow Military Chorus (courtesy of Artkino Pictures). The Pokrass brothers composed it. It’s essentially a single from the movie’s soundtrack.

Artkino pictures were the official distributor of Soviet media (like movies and music etc) in North America between 1950 to 1980.

The Red Tanks or Tankisty was a movie made in 1939. You can find the full film on YouTube here.

You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

Forward To Victory label. Lettering in gold against a black background. Outline of soviet worker at top above spindle.

Song of the Fatherland

Song of the Fatherland, number 6309-A. Sung by the Moscow Military Chorus (courtesy of Artkino Pictures). A single from the film, One Day in Soviet Russia, was produced in 1941. The film is essentially a propaganda piece to help garner pro-soviet sympathy after Germany invaded it. It was narrated by Quentin Reynolds, a journalist, who would be very much anti-communist in the 1950s.

You can download the MP3 here or listen to it below.

Song of the Fatherland label. Lettering in gold against a black background. Outline of soviet worker at top above spindle.

The Internet Archive

The Internet Archive has Along the Vales and Hills, Snowstorm, From Border to Border, Cossack’s Song, The Young Birch Tree, and Meadowland available for download too. So if the MP3s aren’t to your liking you can find more copies there.

The archive also includes other Keynote Record songs like The Clouds Fly High and Blue Night. All were sung by The Red Army Choir of the USSR and conducted by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov.

I’ve embedded both of those below.

Blue Night

Clouds Fly High

Posted on June 3, 2015March 14, 2023 by Pcosta88

Chess Sun VeeJay Rock and Roll Records

Record Label: Early Chess record in a 78 format

Chess Sun VeeJay Rock and Roll Records

These are mentioned because while not appropriate for a WW2 setting these records are sometimes seen with other 78 records.

Sun, Chess, and Vee-Jay record companies all produced rock and roll music. Early rock and roll artists first appeared on a 78 record, post-World War 2. Shortly thereafter (the late 1940s/early 1950s), record companies made the switch from 78 in Shellac to the 45 formats in vinyl. Though, Britain continued to produce 78s until the early 1960s.

The Beatles, Chuck Berry, and Muddy Waters did their first recording on a 78 as did Elvis Presley. Presley first recorded on the Sun label.

Chess Records

Sun Records

Record Label: Early Sun Record in a 78 format. Would make the switch to a 45 format in early 50s. — Record Label: Early Sun Record in a 78 format. Would make the switch to a 45 format in the early 50s.

An example of Elvis Presley on a Sun 78 Record:

Vee-Jay Records

Record Label: Example of a 45. Note the larger opening.

Sources:
http://www.goldminemag.com/article/rock-n-roll-78s-are-a-hot-but-sometimes-overlooked-commodity

Posted on June 3, 2015April 15, 2022 by Pcosta88

Post World War II MGM Records

Record Label Post-WW2: No quad-center just a large hole.

Post World War II MGM Records (1946/1947-present)

Music Genres: Pop

Pre-1941 Label: None

1941-1945s Label: None

Post-WW2 Label:

Record Label Post WW2: Often the MGM record will be a quad-center with or with-out text on the quad-center. — Record Label Post WW2: Often the MGM record will be a quad-center with or without text on the quad-center.

Numbers from start to 1945: Company was created post-WW2 but numbers run from 10000-30500

Notes: Would produce budget labels called Metro and Verve. Verve was bought by MGM in 1960.

Sources:
–Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.
–Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

Posted on June 3, 2015March 23, 2024 by Pcosta88

Post World War II Mercury Label

Founded in 1945 by Irving Berlin and several other artists. Produced several records before World War II ended.

Pre-1941 Label: None

1941-1945s Label: Unknown

Post-WW2 Label:

Winged Head Logo: Appears on Mercury records until the mi-1990s.

Mercury Record Label 1949-1950. This is an example of a Mercury 45 RPM record.

Mercury Record Label :Label from 1949-1960 — Mercury Record Label: The Label from 1949-1960. Note the Long Play (LP) text.

Numbers from start to 1945: 1000-1010

Notes: None

Source:
–http://ronpenndorf.com/labelography3.html
–http://www.45-sleeves.com/USA/mercury/merc-us.htm

Posted on May 31, 2015March 14, 2023 by Pcosta88

Victor Records

Record Label: Jan. 1914-Oct. 1926. Note the arch (“Batwing”) at the top of label. May be in blue, black, purple or red.

Victor Records (1901-1929; after which it is part of RCA)

Founded as Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. The phrase “His Master’s Voice” appears on discs in 1902. Marketed a Victor Monarch Record label (1902-1905) and a De Luxe Label (1902-1905; a De Luxe Special Record that was 14in. was sold from 1902-1903) both would have the dog and gramophone logo. The Victor Monarch Label and the De Luxe Label would also be sold alongside a regular Victor Label or Victor Record Label. The first discs were one-sided and starting around 1908 Victor began to produce two-sided discs. Some early Victors from 1905-1913 will say around the rim “Awarded First Prize…” as Victor was awarded first place at expositions.

A Red Seal Record series (originally one-sided and then two-sided in 1921) would be introduced in 1903 and last till 1923 the design of the Red Seal record would mimic the regular label. The Red Seal series featured higher-end musicians such as Enrico Caruso and cost anywhere between $1-$7.50 which is much more expensive than the regular series records.

In 1929 the Victor Talking Machine was sold to Radio Corporation of America and would operate as RCA-Victor. RCA-Victor would produce budget labels like Timely Tunes(#1550-1600) produced between April 1931 and July 1931 and Electradisk (#1900-2510) produced between 1932-1934 for Woolworth Department Stores. However, the Bluebird label would be its best. In 1936, RCA-Victor would abandon the scrolled design. In 1942, RCA-Victor would introduce a 2-digit pre-fix for record series. In 1946 RCA would RCA on all the records making them RCA-Victor. By the late 1940s/early 1950s RCA-Victor would make the switch to 45s and Long Play (LP) discs.

Music Genres: Jazz, Blues, Classical, “rock and roll”, philharmonic, country/western music, sound recordings, dance

Pre-1941 Label:

Early Victor: 1905-1914 (records from 1908-1914 would feature the word “Patents” at the bottom).

Record Label: Early 1905-1908. Note “Grand Prize” in the center. Records from 1908-1914 would feature “Patents” dates/information listed at the bottom of the record. — Record Label: Early 1905-1908. Note “Grand Prize” in the center. Records from 1908-to 1914 would feature “Patents” dates/information listed at the bottom of the record.

Du Du (Old German Air) on Early Victor by George P Watson

Mid Victor: 1914-1926 the “Batwing” design. 1926-1936 the “Scrolled” design.

Record Label: Oct. 1926-Oct. 1936. Scrolled design. Note the absence of patent numbers and copyright warnings. See also the mention of “Orthophonic Recording” and the “VE” at the bottom/top. This means the recorded has been electrically recorded. May also be in blue, black, red, and maroon. — Record Label: Oct. 1926-Oct. 1936. Scrolled design. Note the absence of patent numbers and copyright warnings. See also the mention of “Orthophonic Recording” and the “VE” at the bottom/top. This means the record has been electrically recorded. May also be in blue, black, red, and maroon.

Late Victor: 1936-1946. Concentric Circles with the Victor title label.

Record Label: 1936-1946. Note “Circles” on edge of label. May be blue or purple, or red, or maroon, or orange. — Record Label: 1936-1946. Note “Circles” on edge of the label. May be blue or purple, red, maroon, or orange.

While not on a late Victor recording, Romance by the Victor Concert Orchestra:

Red Seal Label: 1903-1923

Record Label: 1903-1923. Red in color with the phrase Red Seal Record at the top.

1941-1945 Label: 1942 label with RCA-Victor.

Record Label: 1942. Note the 2-digit pre-fix for the record series and the lack of a scroll design. Note the colorization of the dog.

Listen to the Gooney Bird by Homer and Jethro, a pair of country musicians.

Post-WW2 Label: 1946

Record Label: 1946 as identified with RCA-Victor label. May be seen in blue (Bluebird Series), Red, Black, or Silver and Black. Note the circles on edge. — Record Label: 1946 as identified with RCA-Victor label. It may be seen in blue (Bluebird Series), Red, Black, or Silver and Black. Note the circles on the edge.

Timely Tunes Budget Label: April 1931 and July 1931

Electradisk Budget Label: 1932-1934

While not the name of the disk, here is Jim Harkins on Electradisk playing a song called Play Fiddle, Play.

Victor Numbers from start to 1945: 1-88000

Notes: None

Sources:
–Electradisk Discography
–Timely Tunes Discography
–http://majesticrecord.com/labelsvictor.htm
–http://www.mainspringpress.com/victor1.html
-Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.
-Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943).Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

Posted on May 30, 2015March 23, 2024 by Pcosta88

Gennett Records

Record Label: 1920-1927. Featuring a hexagon. May be in red, blue, green, maroon, or black.

Gennett Records (1917-1934)

The Gennett label was created by Starr Piano Company. The first records produced were under the Starr (1916-1917) label. The Starr label was replaced by the Gennett label. Early Gennett labels were plain but between 1920-and 1927 they would feature a hexagon. In 1927 Gennett would add the phrase “Electobeam” to its label pressings. Starr Piano would cease selling the Gennett label commercially in 1930 (Gennett would live on till 1934 as a custom label) and concentrate on its budget brands: Champion, Superior, Buddy, and Supertone (pressed for Sears).

Superior (#2500-2839) was produced between 1930-and 1932. Gennett would often press records for other labels/companies. Appears to be mostly re-issues. Label design unknown.

Music Genres: Country, Jazz, Blues, “Race-Records”, Gospel, novelty, obscure, Hopi Indian Songs, political speeches, sound effects, Christmas greetings, and Klu Klux Klan Propaganda (pressed on the KKK’s labels 100%, 100% American, Hitch, or KKK)

Early Gennett

Record Label: 1917-1920. Plain. May also be in red.

Mid-Gennett

Late Gennett

Record Label: 1927-1930. Black and Gold. Note the phrase “Electrobeam”

1941-1945s Label: None

Post-WW2 Label: None

Numbers from start to 1945: 2500-19000

Notes: Many famous musicians first recorded under the Gennett label (Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Jelly-Roll Morton, Blind Lemon Johnson, Bix Beiderbecke, Gene Autry).

An example of King Oliver, Froggie Moore, on Gennett

An example of Louis Armstrong, Canal Street Blues on Gennett

Sources:
–http://www.starrgennett.org/stories/history/1.htm
-Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.
-Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.

Posted on May 30, 2015March 23, 2024 by Pcosta88 — 1 Comment

Starr Record Label

Starr Record Label (1916-1917)

The Starr label was the Starr Piano Company’s first label. The records were produced for one year between 1916-1917 label. The Starr label was replaced by the Gennett label as the company wanted to break into new channels and distance itself from the “Piano” side of the business.

Starr Label

Record Label: 1916-1917. Early Starr Piano Label

1941-1945s Label: None

Post-WW2 Label: None

Numbers from start to 1945: Unknown

Notes: none

Posted on May 30, 2015March 23, 2024 by Pcosta88 — 1 Comment

Buddy Record Label

Buddy Record Label (1917-1934)

The Buddy Label was produced between 1923-and 1926 by Starr Piano Company. The label featured companies along the side that had nothing to do with Starr Piano.

Buddy Label

1941-1945s Label: None

Post-WW2 Label: None

Numbers from start to 1945: #8000-8100

Notes: None

Posted on May 30, 2015March 23, 2024 by Pcosta88 — 1 Comment

Champion Record Label

Champion Records (1925-1934)

The Starr Piano Company produced the budget Champion Label from 1925 to Dec. 1934 and would often feature a release of a Gennett artist under a different name to avoid paying royalties. In 1927, the Champion label appeared with the word “Electrograph.” Champion records may be blue, black, or red. The Champion label was sold to Decca in June 1935. Decca would remove the word “Electrograph” and add the phrase “Electrically Recorded.” Decca discontinued the Champion label in April 1936.

Early Champion Label

Late Champion Label

Record Label: 1927-1936. Note the word “Electrograph” beneath Champion label. — Record Label: 1927-1936. Note the word “Electrograph” beneath the Champion label.

While not on a Champion Record, the song Mickey Mouse and Minnie’s in Town is just too cool not to hear:

1941-1945 Label: None

Post-WW2 Label: None

Numbers from start to 1945: #15000-16832

Notes: none

Posted on May 17, 2015March 23, 2024 by Pcosta88

Brunswick Records

Brunswick Records (1916-1950s)

Founded by Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company in 1916. In 1924, Brunswick dropped a multi-colored label in favor of a simple black and gold coloring scheme with a shield. In the same year, Brunswick would introduce the Hall of Fame series. The Hall of Fame series would be produced from 1924-1935.

Brunswick would buy the Vocalion label in 1925. By 1928, they dropped the “A” – “B” side designations in favor of underlining the preferred side. In 1930, Brunswick Records were sold to Warner Bros. Warner Bros. leased Brunswick to ARC in 1931. Records between 1930-1938 would carry a statement that they were “Manufactured by in the USA by Brunswick Radio Corp.”. For an interesting look at the ARC corporate headquarters which housed Brunswick see: this 508 Park Avenue, Dallas blog posting.

American Record Company was bought by Columbia Broadcasting System in Dec. 1938. Brunswick would introduce the Melotone budget label in 1930 and CBS would discontinue it in 1938. CBS would discontinue the Brunswick label in April 1940. This violated the lease agreement and resulted in Brunswick being transferred to Decca. In 1944 Decca revived Brunswick mostly to reissue past recordings primarily from the 80000 series as a Collector’s Series (mostly blues and jazz from the 1920s/1930s).

Decca would produce the Brunswick label in an LP and 45 formats in the 1950s.

Music Genres: Blues, Pop, Jazz, re-issues.

Pre-1941 Label: The first label was between 1916-1924. Note the “B” side. The record came in many colors including black, purple, yellow, green, and blue. All have a similar design.

A second label redesign occurred between 1924-1928. Note the “B” side. Brunswick design now black and gold shield with a scrolled border. Colors may be tan or purple.

A slight modification occurred between 1928-1940. Brunswick would underline the preferred side. If the record has an underlined side and has the phrase “The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company” at the bottom, it was made probably between 1928-1930. That is the time after the underlining was introduced yet before being leased to ARC. After being leased to ARC, records between 1930-1938 would carry a statement that they were “Manufactured by in the USA by Brunswick Radio Corp.”

Brunswick 1928-1940. Note the phrase “Brunswick Radio Corporation” at the bottom.

A Hall of Fame series made by Brunswick came out between 1924-and 1934. Yellow/Gold in color.

1941-1945s Label: When the record label was sold to Decca in 1944, they adopted the Brunswick label to sell their Collector Series. The collector series is displayed predominately at the top. Decca also released reissues under the Brunswick label. These labels display the phrase “Subsidiary of Decca Records, Inc.”.

Brunswick 1944 Collectors Series by Decca

The above record, Buddy’s Habits by Red Nichols and his Five Pennies may be heard below:

Brunswick 1944 Collectors Series by Decca Type 2 — Brunswick 1944 Record as Subsidiary of Decca Records, Inc.

Post-WW2 Label: Brunswick would release 45s and eventually LPs.

Numbers from start to 1945: 100-55000

Notes: Frank Sinatra first recorded on the Brunswick Label in 1939 with the song From the Bottom of my Heart (#8443).

Sources:
—http://www.45-sleeves.com/USA/brunswick/brun-us.htm
—http://www.capsnews.org/barrbru.htm
—http://bsnpubs.com/decca/brunswick/brunswick.html
–Rust, Brian. The American Record Label Book. Arlington House Publishers, NY. 1978.
–Sutton, Nauck. American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891-1943). Mainspring Press, CO.2000.